There is nothing wrong with adopting from a Basset Hound rescue. Giving a dog a second chance at happiness is a beautiful and noble thing to do. However, just as it is important that you make sure you are committed to getting a dog before adopting one, it is equally important that you make sure you are adopting from a rescue you can trust.
Here is what you need to keep in mind when looking for a good rescue –
Beware of scams – Believe it or not, but there are some wholesale breeders and brokers who advertise as a rescue organization simply because they fail to meet state/province and federal laws. In addition, some people also set up bogus animal rescue organizations and collect donations of money for rescue dogs that don’t even exist.
Unlike humane societies and animal shelters, Basset Hound rescue organizations usually work out of someone’s home and are nonprofit. Therefore, make sure you ask the rescue you are interested in important questions such as if they are registered or incorporated as a nonprofit group in your state/province.
Ideal ways to find a reputable rescue group is to check with your national kennel club, the Basset Hound club of your nation, and your local human society or animal shelter.
Find out about foster care – A reputable rescue will place dogs in foster homes in order to determine if and what behavioral problems exist. This part of the process is required in order to find what dogs are suited best to potential adopters.
You should not trust the methods of a rescue group that attempts to place a newly rescued dog with an interested owner, without first properly assessing the dog.
Expect to be placed under the microscope – A decent Basset Hound rescue group will not hand over the dogs they rescue without first knowing information about you. This includes asking you questions about –
- your past experience with dogs, and the particular breed
- Your lifestyle (I.E. Your work schedule, if you have children, other pets, etc.)
- Your reasons for wanting to rescue dog
- Etc.
These questions are not meant to offend or deter you from rescuing a dog, they are simply meant to ensure the rescue that you are committed to providing a healthy and loving relationship to a dog, and to ensure that the dog you are interested in is suitable to your needs.
Be very wary of any rescue that does not have an involved adoption process and only wants a fee with no or few questions asked.
You are responsible for your decision to rescue a dog – Once you have found a Basset Hound rescue you like, and everything checks out, make sure you visit and interact with the dog you will be rescuing a few times before taking him/her home. This will ensure that you are making the right choice.
Ask the rescue group how they obtained the dog you are adopting. This is very important because if the dog was found lost, this could mean that there is an owner still out their looking for their pet.
Once you have your dog, be sure to take him/her to the vet as soon as possible to check for diseases as well as for any tattoos or microchips. These devices will also clue you in on if the dog has an owner searching for him/her.
Finally, you need to be patient with the Basset Hound rescue. Due to the fact that it is a non-profit organization, the people who run the organization are volunteers. Hence, volunteers may leave and new ones may appear. This could mean that the rescue is in a constant state of disorganization. Therefore, the best thing you can do is find out as much as you can about the rescue you are interested in, and select the one that you think provides you with the best options.
Basset Hound Training…
